Ehrhoff and Rome look good to go in Game 1

Ehrhoff and Rome look good to go in Game 1

Christian Ehrhoff skates up ice with the puck in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 18, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 7-3.Photo by
Jeff Vinnick

Putting aside all the hidden injuries that players ignore this time of year, the Canucks should have nearly all hands on deck for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday at Rogers Arena.

Winger Mikael Samuelsson is gone long term with sports hernia and hip flexor surgery and we're still not officially certain about the return of centre Manny Malhotra, but defencemen Christian Ehrhoff and Aaron Rome are sure they are good to go.

Both D-men were lost in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against San Jose 11 days ago, on hits from Sharks winger Jamie McGinn. Ehrhoff suffered an apparent should injury on a clean hit in the first period, while Rome was hit from behind into the boards in the third period and lay on the ice dazed for a couple of minutes afterwards. McGinn received a five-minute major and game misconduct for the hit.

Both D-men, who've been playing as a pair in recent playoff games, have participated in full practices with the team. They were paired together took part in regular shifts.

“I feel good. I'm ready to go,” said Ehrhoff, whose injury is described as “upper body.” “It was good. I've been off the ice a little bit so it was good to get back out there and play again.”

The Canucks will welcome back the German blueliner, who brings speed and offensive ability to the mix. Ehrhoff mans the first-team power play unit with Alex Edler and he has no qualms about using his bomb of a shot. He's also invaluable for being able to skate the puck out of trouble in his own end. Ehrhoff had a career high 50 points (14-36) in the regular season and has 2-9-11 in 16 playoff games.

Rome was a spare part in the regular season, but had played nine consecutive playoff games before suffered what appeared to be a concussion on the hit from McGinn.

Rome said he recovered well.

“I've been pretty fortunate,” he said. “I've been through it before and knew how it felt. I've been pretty fortunate that I've been feeling good right after these injuries and the training staff has done a great job, helping me as much as they can.”

Nobody will say if they are fully healed when the playoffs are on, but Ehrhoff knows the Canucks' blueliners will be facing a physical forecheck from Boston in the Final.

They like to pressure the puck,” said Ehrhoff. “We have to be sharp on our breakouts. They are a very strong and physical team so we've got to be ready for that. As clean as possible we can break out, that will help us and allow us to spend more time in their end.”

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